Electromagnetic switch



June 19, 1962 J. H. HORMAN 3,

ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

FIG.I

INVENTOR. JOHN H. HORMAN ATTORNEY June 19, 1962 J. H. HORMAN ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1960 INVENTOR. JOHN H .HORMAN Y MWQ ATTORNEY United States Patet O 3,040,145 7 ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH John H. Horman, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Allied Control Company, l nc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 1,057 Claims. (Cl. 200-98) This invention relates to the art of electric switch apparatus and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic switch or relay having improved features of design and construction. The invention pertains, in one of its more specific aspects, to a small size relay including a pair of rotary armatures that are adapted to be operated simultaneously and in unison.

The relay of this invention has many and varied applications. It is especially useful in environments, such as on aircraft, which may be subjected to high inertia forces due to shock, vibrations and sudden acceleration or deceleration and in which space for operating equipment is limited. There has been considerable activity in recent years in the field of relays employing rotary armatures. Such activity is exemplified by my Patent No. 2,777,922, dated January 15, 1957, for Electromagnetic Switch, and J. S. Zimmer Patent No. 2,824,189, dated February 18, 1958, for Electromagnetic Switching Device. Both of these patents disclose electromagnetic relays which utilize a single rotary armature for actuating movable contact members. My present invention constitutes a novel and useful improvement over the relays of these patents as will be evident from the detailed description that follows.

One of the important features of the relay of this invention is that it is extremely compact and lends itself to better stacking in panel assemblies than conventional relays of equivalent capacity. For example, a four pole double throw relay embodying this invention may be made in a size that is only slightly larger than a presently available relay having a single rotary armature and capable of controlling only one half as many circuits.

Another important feature of the subject relay is that, by virtue of the configuration and relative position of its rotary armatures and other parts, the relay effectively withstands shock forces, vibrations and the like in normal use. Accordingly, only a light duty holding spring is needed for each or both armatures, depending on the construction, and a relatively small electrical force is required to simultaneously actuate both armatures against the action of the spring and operate corresponding movable contacts.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a compact electric relay that is capable of being made in small or miniature size and that is adapted to withstand shock forces, vibrations and sudden acceleration or deceleration in the course of normal use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a relay of improved design and construction, including a pair of rotary armatures which operate in unison to thereby actuate corresponding independent movable contact members substantially simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relay of the character indicated that is small and lightweight in design, that is sturdy and durable in construction, that is reasonable in manufacturing cost and that is capable of performing its intended functions in a satisfactory and reliable manner.

The foregoing objects and additional objects, together with the advantages of this invention, will be apparent to persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which describe and illustrate, by Way of example, a four pole double throw relay constructed in accordance with the invention and a modification of that relay.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the relay, the casing being shown in cross-section and one of the parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 and is a detailed elevation view of the relay motor assembly, certain parts being omitted for better illustration of other'parts;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the relay coil and pole piece assembly, partly in cross-section;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the armatures of the relay which is shown in other views;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the armature shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the armature shown .in FIG. 5; 20

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the lower header and contact assembly which is also shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along staggered line 9--9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 corresponds generally to FIG. 4 and illustrates a modified construction.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated therein a one piece tubular casing 15 which is open at each end. Snugly positioned within the casing is a support frame which includes a pair of spaced parallel plates 16 and a pair of upstanding planar brackets 17. A bent finger 18 is struck from the marginal portion of each plate. The finger of the upper plate projects upwardly while that of the lower plate projects downwardly. These fingers serve as stop elements to limit pivotal movement of corresponding armatures in one direction as will be described further along herein.

Each bracket 17 consists of a rectilinear central portion 20 and curved end portions 21 which terminate in tongues 22. The junctures of central portion 20 and end portions 21 are slotted to define portions 23 of restricted width (FIG. 2) which register with corresponding edge notches (unnumbered) in the plates. The brackets are positioned in parallel planes, one of the brackets being turned about its vertical axis relative to the other bracket. Bracket portions 23 are joined to the plates by soldering or in any other desired manner known to the art to obtain a sturdy unitary frame structure.

The frame supports an electromagnet unit 25 which includes a pair of spaced, parallel, upstanding bobbins 26 that are located between and bear against frame plates 16 and a pair of magnetizing coils C, each of which is wound around a corresponding bobbin. The coils are sheathed in protective outer wrappers of a suitable insulating material. The coils are electrically connected and are pro vided with insulated leads 27 and 28 which extend through respective openings 30' and 31 in the lower frame plate.

Each coil is provided with a pole piece P which is made from a right circular cylindrical bar of good magnetic material, such as cold rolled steel. Each pole piece is machined on several diameters and is formed with pairs of shoulders 32 and 33 at the junctures of portions of different diameter. A spacer sleeve 34 is provided at each end portion of the pole pieces and has an outer diameter that is greater than the maximum diameter of the pole piece. A narrow plate type connector 35 extends between and receives the extremities of corresponding ends of the pole pieces. The pole pieces are aflixed to connectors 35, preferably by soldering, as indicated at 36 in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated from an examination of FIG. 4 that the illustrated arrangement of sleeves 34 and connectors 36 maintains the pole pieces in position relative to the coils and the frame plate. Each connector 35 has a central through opening 37 that is aligned with an opening 38 in a corresponding frame plate 16. In fact, all openings 37 and 38 are coaxial.

The electromagnet unit also comprises a pair of laminated armatures A which are best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Each armature includes a pair of oppositely curved balanced arms 40. These arms are disposed to opposite sides of the axis of a centrally located shaft 41. Each shaft is rotatable and is journaled at its ends in a connector opening 37 and a corresponding plate opening 38. Each armature is aflixed to and rotatable with its shaft. Each armature arm 40 defines a semicircular recess 42 having a diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameters of sleeves 34. Each armature is provided with a pair of contact actuators 43, each consisting of a rod 44 which is welded at one end to a corresponding armature arm, as indicated at 45 in FIG. 6, and an insulating element, such as a glass bead 46, which is formed at its other end. It will be noted from an examination of FIGS. 1 and 2 that one of the armatures is positioned between upper connector 35 and upper frame plate 16 and that the other armature is positioned between lower connector 35 and lower frame plate 16. It will also be noted that the armatures are independently rotatable about a common axis, i.e. the coincident axes of spaced shafts 41.

Each armature is equipped with a light holding spring 47 which consists of a portion 48, looped around a shaft 41, and arms 49. One of the spring arms is anchored to a connector 35 and the other arm engages the armature. The parts are so constructed and arranged that each spring normally and yieldingly urges its armature in a direction about the axis of shafts 41 so that armature arms 40 are biased away from the pole pieces to the extent allowed by stop element 18 (FIG. 3).

Reference is next had to FIGS. 8 and 9 which illustrate the details of construction of a header assembly H that is mounted below the lower armature of FIG. 1. This header assembly includes a support plate 50 which is provided with a pair of edge slots 51 that receive lower tongues 22 of brackets 17. The bracket tongues are welded to the header plate, as indicated at 52 in FIG. 1. The support plate carries electrical connections, switch contacts and other elements that will now be identified and described. Such parts include a total of eight fixed terminals, namely terminals 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60. All terminals extend through plate 50 and are anchored thereto by corresponding masses of a suitable, rigid, insulating material, such as glass 61. Aflixed to each of terminals 53, 56, 57 and 60 is a corresponding L-shaped stationary contact 53a, 56a, 57a and 60a. Terminals 55 and 58 are respectively connected to coil leads 27 and 28 and are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electric energy supply.

An electrically conductive first leaf spring contact arm 62 is anchored at one end to terminal 54 by welding and is provided with a contact button 63 at its other end. This contact button is positioned between stationary contacts 56a and 60a. A like second contact arm 64 is similarly anchored at one end to terminal 59 and is provided with a contact button 65 at its other end. This contact button is located between stationary contacts 53a and 57a. Contact arm 62 normal-1y biases its contact button 63 into engagement with stationary contact 56a while contact arm 64 normally biases its contact button 65 into engagement with stationary contact 57a.

Contact arm 62 extends across the path of movement of one of the actuator beads 46 and is adapted to be flexed by that bead, in response to actuation of lower armature A, to effect disengagement of contact button 63 from stationary contact 56a and engagement of this contact button with stationary contact 60a. Contact arm 64 extends across the path of movement of the other actuator bead 46 and is adapted to be flexed by that bead, in response to actuation of the lower armature, to effect disengagement of contact button 65 from stationary contact 57a and engagement of that contact button with stationary contact 53a. It will be evident from the foregoing and an examination of the drawings that the contact arms 62 and 64 are adapted to be flexed simultaneously by corresponding actuator beads in response to operation of the lower armature. 7

The relay also includes an upper header assembly H which is disposed above the upper armature and is inverted relative to header assembly H. Assembly H is preferably the same as header assembly H except that it does not include fixed terminals corresponding to terminals and 58.

For the purpose of outlining the operation of the above described form of the invention, it is assumed that the relay shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 is assembled and that the parts are in the relative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is further assumed that terminals 55 and 58 are connected to a convenient source of electric energy supply and that magnetizing coils C are deenergized. Under these circumstances, both armatures are biased by their holding springs 47 so that their arms 40 are maintained away from pole pieces P, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words and having reference to FIG. 3, armature A is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about its shaft by spring 47 to the extent allowed by stop element 18.

When the coils are energized, pole pieces P exert sufficient attracting force on the armatures to pivot both armatures substantially simultaneously about the common axis of their shafts against the action of their springs 47. Thus armature arms 40 are moved toward the pole pieces or in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. Such movement of the armatures and their arms causes actuators 43 to engage and flex movable contact arms 62 and 64. The flexing of arm 62 breaks contact between contact button 63 and stationary contact 56a and makes contact between contact button 63 and stationary contact a. In like manner, flexing of contact arm 64 causes contact button to break contact with stationary contact 57a, and make contact with stationary contact 53a. When the magnetizing coils are again deenergized, the parts return to their original position.

The above described embodiment of the invention contemplates a relay construction wherein the armatures are rotatable simultaneously but independently. It is within the purview of this invention to actuate both armatures simultaneously and dependently. This may be accomplished by utilizing a single armature shaft 65, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In this form of construction, shaft 65 extends through and is rotatable in frame plates 16. The armatures are rigidly secured to the shaft and rotatable therewith. This construction assures simultaneous actuation of both armatures upon energization of the magnetizing coils. It will be evident that both armatures rotate in the same direction. This necessitates that the arrangement of parts carried by the upper header assembly (not shown in FIG. 10) be opposite to that of header assembly H.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, advantages, construction and operation of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled r in the art, without further description. Although the invention has been herein shown and described in simple and practicable forms, it is recognized that certain parts thereof are representative of other parts which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope and protection of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of armatures carried by the frame and rotatable about a common axis that is intermediate the pole pieces, each armature being disposed to the side'of a corresponding plate that is remote from the coils and including a pair of balanced arms which extend to opposite sides of said axis and toward an end part of each pole piece, spring means normally and yieldingly imparting pivotal movement to each armature in one direction about said axis to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces, a contact actuator affixed to each armature arm, a contact support plate adjacent each armature, and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of its armature in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

2. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a rectilinear pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of armatures carried by the frame and rotatable about a common axis that is intermediate and substantially parallel to the pole pieces, each armature being disposed to the side of a corresponding plate that is remote from the coils and including a pair of balanced arms which are substantially normal to said axis and which extend to opposite sides of said axis and toward an end part of each pole piece, spring means normally and yieldingly imparting pivotal movement to each armature in one direction about said axis to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces, a contact actuator afi'ixed to each armature arm, a contact support plate adjacent each armature, and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movble contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of its armature in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

3. A relay according to claim 2 wherein the armatures are independently rotatable about said common axis.

4. Arelay according to claim 2 wherein the armatures are directly connected and rotatable in unison about said common axis.

5. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of connector members, each connector member being spaced from a corresponding plate and secured to an end part of each pole piece, a pair of armatures carried by the frame and rotatable about a common axis that is intermediate the pole pieces, each armature including a pair of balanced arms which are positioned between a connector member and a corresponding plate and which extend to opposite sides of said axis and toward an end part of each pole piece, spring means normally and yielding imparting pivotal movement to each armature in one direction about said axis to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces, a contact actuator afilxed to each armature arm, a contact support plate adjacent each armature, and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of its armature in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

6. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a rectilinear pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of connector members, each connector member being spaced from a corresponding plate and secured to an end par-t of each pole piece, a pair of armatures carried by the frame and rotatable about a common axis that is intermediate and substantially parallel to the pole pieces, each armature including a pair of balanced arms which are substantially normal to said axis and which are positioned between a connector member and a corresponding plate and which extend to opposite sides of said axis and toward an end part of each pole piece, spring means normally and yieldingly imparting pivotal movement to each armature in one direction about said axis to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces, a contact actuator afiixed to each armature arm, a contact support plate adjacent each armature, and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of its armature in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

7. A relay according to claim 6 wherein the armatures are independently rotatable about said common axis.

8. A relay according to claim 6 wherein the armatures are directly connected and rotatable in unison about said common axis.

9. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of connector members, each connector member being spaced from a corresponding plate and secured to an end part of each pole piece, a pair of armatures, each armature including a pair of balanced arms and a shaft which is supported by a connector member and a corresponding plate, said shafts having a common axis, the arms of each armature extending to opposite sides of said axis and toward an end part of each pole piece and being rotatable about said axis independent of rotation of the arms of the other armature, spring means normally and yieldingly imparting pivotal movement to each armature in one direction about said axis to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces, a contact actuator aflixed to each armature arm, a contact support plate adjacent each armature and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of its armature in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

10. In a relay, a support frame including a pair of spaced plates, a pair of magnetizing coils carried by the frame and positioned between the plates, a pole piece in each coil and including end parts which extend through and beyond the plates, a pair of connector members, each connector member being spaced from a corresponding plate and secured to an end part of each pole piece, a rotary shaft intermediate the pole pieces and extending through and beyond the plates, a pair of spaced armatures secured to and rotatable with the shaft, each armature including a pair of balanced arms which are positioned between a connector member and a corresponding plate and which extend to opposite sides of the axis of the shaft and toward an end part of each pole piece, spring means normally and yieldingly imparting pivotal movement to the armatures in one direction about the axis of the shaft to swing the armature arms away from the pole pieces,

a contact actuator affixed to each armature arm, a support plate adjacent each armature, and a pair of stationary contacts and a pair of movable contacts secured to each support plate, each actuator being adapted, upon pivotal movement of the armatures in a reverse direction against the action of the spring means, to engage and move a corresponding movable contact relative to a corresponding stationary contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zimmer Feb. 18, 1958 

